I want to try new formula...pedi doesn't...

First, I'm not planning on going against my pedi's recommendation, unless the GE specialist suggest otherwise. HOWEVER...I would like to know if any of you have made the following switch and if it has worked for you...

First, are there any of you who have twins born at 30 weeks or earlier who have problems with reflux? Secondly, while in the NICU were they put on a "preemie" formula such as Enfamil Enfacare or Neosure, etc? If so, did they stay on this formula? My girls were put on Enfacare in the hospital. In the NICU and for the first few weeks home I was providing them with breastmilk for most meals...from then up until 8 weeks I slowly weened the girls off breastmilk and they were getting more formula. It seems like (or maybe it's coincidence) the more formula they got the worse their reflux got. Or, maybe it's just their age or the larger amts they're eating causing the reflux it worsen.

Anyway, I know that many moms experiment with formulas, especially when their babies have reflux. I have heard good things about Good Start and reflux. I mentioned this to the pedi today and she didn't want me to switch because she thinks the girls need what the Enfacare provides. I'm wondering if there are any moms with 30 weekers (or less) who have babies with reflux who have switched from a "preemie" formula to a "regular" formula. My girls are 11 weeks tomorrow and weigh between 7-7.5lbs. How old were they when you switched? Did it help with reflux? Was your pedi OK with the switch?

Thanks!!
shelby

 

First, I'm not planning on going against my pedi's recommendation, unless the GE specialist suggest otherwise. HOWEVER...I would like to know if any of you have made the following switch and if it has worked for you...

First, are there any of you who have twins born at 30 weeks or earlier who have problems with reflux? Secondly, while in the NICU were they put on a "preemie" formula such as Enfamil Enfacare or Neosure, etc? If so, did they stay on this formula? My girls were put on Enfacare in the hospital. In the NICU and for the first few weeks home I was providing them with breastmilk for most meals...from then up until 8 weeks I slowly weened the girls off breastmilk and they were getting more formula. It seems like (or maybe it's coincidence) the more formula they got the worse their reflux got. Or, maybe it's just their age or the larger amts they're eating causing the reflux it worsen.

Anyway, I know that many moms experiment with formulas, especially when their babies have reflux. I have heard good things about Good Start and reflux. I mentioned this to the pedi today and she didn't want me to switch because she thinks the girls need what the Enfacare provides. I'm wondering if there are any moms with 30 weekers (or less) who have babies with reflux who have switched from a "preemie" formula to a "regular" formula. My girls are 11 weeks tomorrow and weigh between 7-7.5lbs. How old were they when you switched? Did it help with reflux? Was your pedi OK with the switch?

Thanks!!
shelby

 

Oh...forgot to mention that girls just started Maalox and Prevacid...yet to be seen if it will help.

 

Yep...mine were the same age. The NICU doc and ped wanted them on breastmilk and neosure. So...I would try to breastfeed and then do a supplement. Then, found out one daughter had reflux. We tried Zantac...didn't work. She was put on breastmilk mixed with cereal. DID WONDERS!!!! No more stopping of her breathing, going limp, spitting up, pains, etc. She has a hard time with formula...so when I have to use it for her, I use Similac - Isomil.

My other daughter started refusing Neosure. She hated the taste. She finally learned how to nurse (as both have PT due to poor sucking). However, when she needs formula (usually at least a couple ounces daily) we do Similac. We have tried other formulas, however, Similac is the only one she likes. I think you need to try different formulas to see which ones your babies like. Some doctors prefer formulas because they like the drug rep or the manufacturer and get "extras" for using or suggesting that formula (I used to work for a doctor).

Only you know best. Trust you instinct. If you aren't using cereal in the formula, I would try that (if your baby has vomiting, etc.). I believe my girls were your babies' ages when they went on cereal. (I give cereal once a day to my other daughter too just to help her with her hunger and because of her poor sucking.)

Oh...by the way, the ped wanted the girls on Neosure until 6 months. Not gonna happen. Also, I just told the ped which formula they would take. Sometimes you have to stand your ground and just tell the ped which one works best for your baby.

 

Mine were 35 weekers, BUT I did have one with reflux... and it was pure h@l@ for him, and me. They put him on Zantac and Reglan and those didn't help much at all. They were on Neosure formula for the first 6 months. Then, I asked to switch them to Good Start, the pedi said they usually prefer the first 9 months of using it, but since mine were doing good we could.

I don't think Jack's reflux got any better until after 6 months of age.

 

Although my girls were not preemies, they both had reflux. And although we went through several different formulas, they never made ANY difference. The only one that maybe helped a TINY bit was Enfamil A.R. because it is made with rice starch thickener and so it is the thickest of formulas out there (at least that I know of). The only thing that helped were the meds. and even with those my one dd still puked like 10 times a day! It's just something I had to deal with and it finally, eventually went away (at 4 1/2 months for one dd and at 6 1/2 months for other). GL. I know how darn frustrating the whole reflux can be...a real pain in the arse.

 

Mine werent early like yours were but they were placed on the premie formula of similac at teh begining. When I thought they were ready,i asked the doctor a rec. on what to switch them to. He told me that after 10 lbs that it's okay to switch them off of a preemi formula. Anyways, we tried many formulas b/c of reflux anf ended up putting cereal in nighttime bottles and that helped alot! Still we had teh squirming and crying durring bottle feeding. So we switched to good start supreme with dha and ara and had the same problems. In a last effort, we switched to good start, the one in the purple can, without dha and ara and we havent had any problems and we have got two, 20 lb healthy boys. The symptoms of feflux have seemed to stop though we still give the cereal at night to "fill em up". Hope that sheds some light..maybe...lol Good luck - fidning the right formula was a pain for us.

Amanda

 

My ds (27 weeker) had horrible reflux, was on ebm fortified with neosure. he stayed on that though through 13 months, reflux finally was better once we switched to prilosec, that was the only med that worked for him.

Now as for my girls they are 32 weekers, were on ebm fortified with neosure, well pumping got to be too much this time so I started to switch them to formula, we tried just straight neosure and well their reflux got ALOT worse. So we tried a regular formula fortified with neosure, better but still not good. We also tried soy Goodstart fortified with neosure and that was not good either, for some reason they had a problem with soy. Finally we switched to Similac lactose free fortified with neosure. Now I know it seems wierd since neosure is a milk based with lactose but it seemed as though having a smaller amount of lactose based mixed in made it ALOT better and they were still getting enough calories to help with their wieght issues. Brooke was larger and her wieght gain was better so she we no longer had to fortify once she hit around 5 months or so. Madison on the other hand was quite a bit smaller, still is today, but she was able to come off the Neosure at 6 months. Now both are just on Lactose Free and not spitting up or seeming to be in as much pain.

I do suggest you keep fortifying with the high cal formula but maybe you can try to fortify a lactose free or soy formula adn see how that goes.

 

I have a funny story. I was on reglan to help with supply issues Jessy never had any problems while she was on ebm supplimented with Neosure. As soon as we went to straight Neosure(supply issues finally got the best of me and I had to go back to work) she started having problems! The only thing we can figure is that her body handled the ebm better plus she was getting a small dose of Reglan with it. She only had mild reflux though and we made it with just Axid. We changed to Goodstart at 3 months and never had weight gain problems (now we do).

 

Babies that drink breastmilk have less problems with reflux than formula fed babies. I just wanted to clear that up. Other than that I have no other pearls of wisdom to impart.

 

Mine were born at 25 and 26 weeks. While in the NICU they got BM and eventually it was fortified with Neosure. I pumped until they were 4 months old and we had to fortify 2 bottles a day with the Neosure. When I stopped pumping at 4 months I put them on Enfamil Enfacare. They stayed on that until we made the switch to milk just this week. Ped. wanted to keep them on it until we switched to milk for the extra calories. Both of them have reflux. It is very common in preemies. We tried zantac, it didn't work. They are both on prevacid and it works great. Mine were diagnosed with reflux while I was pumping so they were getting 100% BM, but still had the reflux pretty bad. It didn't seem any worse once we went to formula, but they were already on prevacid at that time.

Can't help you with the other formula question, but wanted to let you know about the preemie formula and reflux.